1On one occasion the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. sn.iv.263 There the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Friends, bhikkhus!" [n.276] The first nine suttas of this saṁyutta report Moggallana's experiences during his week-long struggle for arahantship immediately after his ordination as a bhikkhu. For another account of his development, see AN IV 85–88, and for a connected narrative, see Hecker, "Mahāmoggallāna: Master of Psychic Powers," in Nyanaponika and Hecker, Great Disciples of the Buddha, pp. 78–83.

"Friend!" those bhikkhus replied. The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:

2"Here, friends, while I was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in my mind thus: ‘It is said, "the first jhāna, the first jhāna." What now is the first jhāna?’

"Then, friends, it occurred to me: ‘Here, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. This is called the first jhāna.’

"Then, friends, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, I entered and dwelt in the first jhāna … . While I dwelt therein perception and attention accompanied by sensuality assailed me. [n.277] Kāmasahagatā saññā manasikārā samudācaranti. Spk glosses: accompanied by the five hindrances.

3"Then, friends, the Blessed One came to me by means of spiritual power and said this: ‘Moggallana, Moggallana, do not be negligent, brahmin, regarding the first jhāna. Steady your mind in the first jhāna, unify your mind in the first jhāna, concentrate your mind in the first jhāna.’ Then, friends, on a later occasion, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, I entered and dwelt in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion.

"If, friends, one speaking rightly could say of anyone: ‘He is a disciple who attained to greatness of direct knowledge [n.278] Mahābhiññataṃ patto. Moggallana excelled in the supernormal powers (iddhividha); see SN51.14, 51:31. with the assistance of the Teacher,’ it is of me that one could rightly say this."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhikkhū āmantesi: "āvuso bhikkhave"ti.

"Āvuso"ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:

2"Idha mayhaṁ, āvuso, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ, paṭhamaṁ jhanan’ti vuccati. Katamaṁ nu kho paṭhamaṁ jhananti?

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi: ‘idha bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihārati. Idaṁ vuccati paṭhamaṁ jhanan’ti.

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena vihārato kāmasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.

3Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca: ‘moggallāna, moggallāna. Mā, brāhmaṇa, paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ pamādo, paṭhame jhāne cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, paṭhame jhāne cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, paṭhame jhāne cittaṁ samādahā’ti. So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.

Yañhi taṁ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’ti, mamaṁ taṁ sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’"ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.